Acidproof tank



June 8, 1937. R. NEuHAUs 2,083,469

l ACIDPROOF TANK Filed July l5, 1935 Patented June 8, 1937 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE ACIDPROOF .TANK

Application July 15, 1935, Serial No. 31,393

11 Claims.

This invention relates to an acid-proof 'tank designed for picklingmetal bars and more-particularly to tanks of large size, tanks of thischaracter being commonly several hundred feet long.

The present invention relates generally to the type of acid-proof tankas shown in my prior Patent No. 1,847,192 in which the tank is formed byproviding an outer concrete shell, the inner surface of which isl coatedwith asphaltand the tank then lined with acid-proof bricks set up insulfur cement, the molten sulfur cement being poured between the jointsof the bricks as they are set up in the manner disclosed in my saidpatent. With such tanks the asphalt layer between the outer shell andthe inner shell serves two functions, rst, that of providing acushioning layer which permits the inner shell to expand relative to theouter shell, and second, that of providing a sealing layer whichintercepts any acids that may seep through-hairline cracks of the liningshell and prevent them from attacking the concrete. shell. However,ithas been discovered that when such tanks are built outdoors and whenthey are suddenly lled with hotacids after being subjected to lowtemperature weather conditions the expanding pressure ofthe vinner shellis suiiicient to actually break the outer concrete shell. This is due,of course, to the fact that at such low temperatures the asphaltcushioning layer vis hard and-does not yield and consequently theexpanding force of the inner shell is transmitted directly to the outershell with resultant breakage. Tanks ofthis character are made very muchlonger than they are wide and .35 the difficulty does not arise in adirection transversely of the tank. However, with the extreme length ofthe tanks a breaking in two of the outer shell, as described, is-liableto occur under cold weathervconditions.

It is accordingly the principal object of this in vention to provide atank in which the. inner shell is entirely free to expand lengthwiseofthe outer shell wholly independently thereof so thatunder no conditionof operation can the outer shellfbe strained to thepoint of breaking.

It has also been discovered .that with :some tanks lined with a doublecourse of brick and vsulfur cement and having a cushioning layer ofasphalt, an oozing of the asphalt through the wall lining is liable tooccur. This oozing ofthe asphalt cushioning layer into the tank is dueto minute hairline cracks which are liable to develop in the asphalt andbrick lining and is lhighly vobjectionable as even a small quantityof'aspha'lt ,55 fin the tank-willsoil the metal-sheets so thatthey (Cl.'l2-44) have to be rejected and re-cleaned. Ithas further beendiscovered that thisoozing of the asphalt in the side wallsalways-occurs in a zone notexceeding -I5 inches .from the bottom of thetank. This appears to be true regardless of the depth of the tank.Accordingly, the present invention proposes to place an additionalwallof brick and sulfur cement aroundI this zone, thisrwall extending nohigher than 20 inches from thelbottom of the tank around 'those wallslwhichfare asphalt 'backed and preventing the oozing of the asphalt intothe tank.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan lview of a tank embodying my invention.

Figs, 2 and 3 are enlarged nvertical sections, taken on thecorrespondingly numberedlines on Fig.`1. n

Fig4 is arhorizontalsection through onelcorner of thetank.

In accordance with the present .invention the concrete shell I0 ofthe-tank isiirst constructed. The bottom. of the shell-.l..is iormedeatone` end to providea depression II.the depth of `Whichis approximatelyequal to the smallest dimension of the bricks whichare used .inconstructingthe inner shell. Atfopposite sidesof this .depression Il the`side `.walls are offset `outwardly.'as-indicated at I 2 soy asto formpocketsinthe side walls, which pockets are approximately as .wide'as thewidth ofthe brick usedin constructing .the inner shell.

The concrete shell as thus.constructedisthen coated throughout with `aninner layer I3 ,of asphalt Aiterbeing so coated a layer.. of bricks I 4is laid inI the depression I I,the upper Viiat faces of .thesebricksbeing substantially.coplanarwith the bottom of the concrete shellIIJ. These. bricksI4 .are .preferably laid inbreak-joint `relation andthe `joints betweenthemare lled with sulfur cement I5. Awall ofacid-proof bricks I6 are then laid around three edges of the layer ofbricks I4 and against the corresponding walls of .the concrete shell I0.The wall I6 is preferably only ansingle v.brickthick and after eachcourse .is laid suitable forms are provided .against the inside face 4ofthe course and molten sulfur cementk I'I `is poured between the bricksforming the course inthe manner disclosed in my priorPatent No.vk1,847,192. The wall of bricks I6 fills the pockets "I2 inthe sidewalls of the concrete shell and lines ,the adjacent endwall of thegtank,as best illustrated in' Fig. l. Aspreviously stated thezbricks IB'form-'ing the side walls'iill' the pockets I2 so as to ybring unitaire` the'side wausronn'ed by ythe bricks ls by thesulfur 'cement 2| in which 4thebricks I6 are laid.

The exposed upper surface of the bricks I4 are then coated with a layerof asphalt 23,` this layer f forming a continuation ofthe asphalt I3 onthe bottom'of-the concrete shell andthe inside face of the sidewallsformed by the' bricks I6 are then coated with a layer ofA asphalt24,4this as'- phalt 24 forming a continuation ofthe asphalt I3 on theside walls of the concrete shell, as best illustrated in Fig. 1.

, The lining ofthe tank then proceedsinv the or the concrete shell -I Iland against the. side "fwalls 4fl'irm'ed `-by the bricks I6 andthe'endwall -manner disclosed in my prior. `Patent No.`

1,847,192, va layerhof acid-proof bricks 25 being placed over the layerof` asphalt I3 and 23 on lthe-bottomof the tank and the joints betweenthese bricks beingtfllled with sulfur cement 2li.

After -this additional'layers of bricks 21and-28 are 4placed in positionand each separately lled with'moltenv s'ulfur cement,- as bestillustrated 'in'-Fig. 2. 'YI-he lining of thel side walls then pro- 1eeds, a double course of brick 29 being nrstiaid around the inside ofthe tank against the walls .formed by the bricks 20. The walls arer then-builtup course upon course until the topofthe "concreteshell islreached, v'each course having lits joints lledjwith molten sulfur cementbefore the-next courseis laid `and asuitableform' or strip or paperbeing provided against the' inside "'of eachv-course `to retain themolten 4sulfur cewment until it has hardened.

Itwillbewunderstood that in providing the horizontaljoints betweenV theseveral courses that type `of brick can be used which is providedV withsmall feet for` this purpose -or small pieces l 'o1' hard sulfur cementcan beplaced'undereach Vbrlckas v`it is laid so as'to lprovideaspaceunder itto receive'the molten sulfur cement.

' HVWith-atankconstructed as above described it is' apparent that'thespace `22 permits of 'free expansion and contraction of the bricks and"sulfurf'cem'ent lining lengthwise" relative to the concrete'- shell I0,the entire'end wall"form ed by ,the bricks 2Iibeing moved bodily astheliningA *expands and contracts.' While the sulfurcebrokenin'the'jinitial expansion of the tankgthis sulfurr cementremains sulciently intact so,` as ,l to iorm` a barrier against theseepage of the asl"phalt, layersv 24 into the chamber 22 which, of

jcoursaifit occurred in a largedegree would defeatgthe principal objectof the invention.

' Whilev a'small amount of acid may seep through tojthisfsmall space`22this acid does not, of

courseginterfere with the free movement of. the

end ofthe lining of the 4tank into this space regardlessgof how A'coldit may be.

, It will also be noted that Vthe -concrete shellv of .the tank isprotected throughout by an asphalt cushioningy layer so that acid fromthe tank .x15 seen@ ses [threughed .disintegrate the can crete shell,thek asphalt Voperating to seal any y hairline cracks which mightdevelop. yIt will also be observed that at the end of the -tank whereexpansion is provided for, double asphalt layers are provided at theplaces where seepage of acid would be most likely to occur, i. e. theend of vthe lining shell which moves under expansion and contractionforces. Thus acid seeping `through to the-expansion chamber 22 isprevented by the asphalt layers 23 and 24 from/seeping under 'or aroundthe moving end of the lining shell "to the concrete shell and isprevented by` the 'asphalt layer I3 from seeping out through the coursesof bricks of ,single thickness which line this ,expansion chamber.

V,sWithv concrete shells lined with side walls of 3 twofthicknesses ofbrick, set in sulfur cement,

as previously described, it has been fdiscovered that hairline crackswill occasionally develop in the wallsk which permit a small amount ofasphalt'to vooze through thebrick lining and into fthe tank.' Suchoozing is particularly objectionf able because the asphalt willsettle'on the sheets and Vsoil them so that-they haveto be rejectedandrecleaned andif the soilingfit not discovered While' the `sheets arevbeing removed from the tank, subsequent imperfect processing of thesheet mayrequire it to be scrapped; It has further been discovered'thatyregardless of the heightofthe walls of the tank, thesefcracksalways develop within a zone` not exceeding 15 inches from the bottom ofthe tank. Therefore as an additional protection against such oozing iofthe asphalt as above described, those walls of the tank whichare'backedby the asphalt cushv`ioning layer I3fareV facedfwith a'lowwall of ithigher would not onlywbera needless waste oi' material Abutwould alsoreduce the size of the ltank whichthe low wall of brickfdoesnot and the low wall has been discovered toA completely Aprotect the`zone in ,which oozing out of the asphalt is liableto occur'.` In theconstruction of tank shown onlythe` walls vof the true inner` 1iningshell are backed by an'asphalt layer and con-v sequently the low Wallo1'` brick ,3I' extendsaround these three walls only., f II-.the tankwere not provided with an expansion' space, but lined, for

example, as shown 'in my s said Patent No. Y h .l i 1,847,192 then, ofcourse, the `low wall "would be "fmentwhich joins the bottom and `sidesof this V`wall to thesidewalls formed by the bricks `I6 and,` thebottomformed by they bricks I4'is necessarily provided around all foursidezwalls of the tank. /Fro'm they foregoingit is apparent that thepresent invention providesa tank lined with acidproof brick'and sulfurcement in which the liningL is `entirely 'freeto expand lengthwise ofthe tank to avoid `breaking the concrete shell vin two as has occurredheretofore. yFurther, bythe prov4vision of the space 22fforV thisexpansion all expanding strains' 'due to the differences in coeficientsofjexpansion between the shell and the lining Vare Arelievedv so thatcracks areless likely to develop and 'the tankv will have anfindeniteFurther, in the provision of the space 22 topermitthis'expansionadequate means are probottom layer of bricks I4 andthe walls formed by the bricks I6 are laid against a layer of asphaltwhich will repel any acids which may seep through these bricks. Further,the present invention provides additional protection at the zone wherehairline cracks are liable to develop and permit oozing out of asphalt,namely within I5 inches from the bottom of the tank, Without decreasingthe eiective size oi the tank and without requiring the use of an unduequantity of brick and sulfur cement for this purpose.

I claim as my invention:

1. An acid-proof tank oi the character described, comprising an outershell, an inner shell composed of brick and sulfur cement and a liningof asphalt between said inner and outer shells, said shells beingconstructed to provide an air space therebetween to permit expansion ofthe inner shell relative to the outer shell.

2. An acid-proof tank of the character described, comprising an outershell, an inner shell comprised of brick and sulfur cement, said shellsbeing constructed to provide a space therebetween to permit expansion ofthe inner shell relative to the outer shell, a lining of asphalt betweensaid inner and outer shells, and a wall arranged within said space forsupporting said lining of asphalt, said last wall being spaced from saidinner shell.

3. A tank of the character described, comprising an outer shell, alining of asphalt lining said outer shell, an inner shell composed ofbrick and sulfur cement, said shells being constructed to provide aspace therebetween to permit expansion of the inner shell relative totheouter shell, and a wall of acid-proof material arranged within saidspace for supporting said lining of asphalt, said wall being spaced fromsaid inner shell and being extended laterally inward at its bottom toextend under the inner shell.

4. A tank of the character described, comprising an outer shell, a layerof asphalt lining said outer shell, an inner shell composed of brick andsulfur cement, said shells being constructed to provide a spacetherebetween to permit expansion of the inner shell relative to theouter shell, a wall of acid-proof material arranged within said spacefor supporting said layer of asphalt, said wall being spaced from saidinner shell and being extended laterally inward at its bottom to extendunder the inner shell and a layer of asphalt between said inner shelland that portion of said wall extended thereunder.

5. An acid-proof tank, comprising an elongated D outer shell and anelongated inner shell composed of brick and sulfur cement and having abottom resting on the bottom oi said outer shell, and having two sidewalls and one end wall supported against the corresponding walls of saidouter shell, the other end wall oi said inner shell being spaced fromthe corresponding end wall of said outer shell, said space permittinglengthwise expansion of said inner shell relative to said outer shell.

6. An acid-proof tank, comprising an elongated outer shell, anelongatedk inner shell composed of brick and sulfur cement and' having abottom resting on the bottom of said outer shell, and having two sidewalls and one end wall supported against the corresponding walls of saidouter shell, the other end wall of said inner shell being spaced fromthe corresponding end wall of said outer shell, said space permittinglengthwise exa Space pansion of said inner shell relative to said outershell and a layer of asphalt between said shells.

7. A tank of the character described, comprising an elongated outershell, a layer of asphalt on the inside of said outer shell, a wallcomposed of brick and sulfur cement arranged against the inner face ofone end wall, an elongated inner shell composed of brick and sulfurcement and having a bottom resting on the bottom of said outer shell,and having two side walls and one end wall supported against thecorresponding walls of said outer shell, the other end wall of saidinner shell being spaced from said iirst named wall to provide aclearance space permitting expansion of said inner shell relative tosaid outer shell.

8. An acid-proof tank of the character described, comprising anelongated outer shell having its side walls offset laterally at one endto provide interior pockets therein and also having its bottom formed toprovide a depression between said pockets, a layer of asphalt over theinner surface ofsaid outer shell, a layer of brick and sulfur cement insaid depression, side walls of brick and sulfur cement in said pocketsand an end wall of brick and sulfur cement connecting said brick andsulfur cement side walls and disposed against the inner face of theadjacent end wall of said shell, said bottom layer and side walls ofbrick and sulfur cement forming coplanar continuations of thecorresponding inner surface of said outer shell, and an inner lining ofbrick and sulfur cement within said shell, one end wall of said liningbeing spaced from said end wall of brick and sulfur cement to providepermitting expansion of said lining lengthwise relative to said outershell.

9. A tank composed of an outer shell including a bottom and side Walls,a lining of asphalt over the inner surface of said outer shell, an innerlining shell including a bottom and side walls of brick and sulfurcement and an additional wall of brick and sulfur cement erected againstthey inner face of at leastone wall of said lining shell and having aheight less rthan half the height of the walls of said lining shell andpreventing oozing of said asphalt into the interior of the tank.

10. A tank composed o-f an outer shell including a bottom and sidewalls, a lining of asphalt over the inner surface of said outer shell,an inner lining shell' including a bottom and side walls of brickandsulfur cement and an additional wall of brick and sulfur cementerected against the inner face of at least one wall of said lining shelland extending upwardly to a level substantially below the normal levelof the liquid in the tank and preventing oozing of said asphalt into theinterior of ythe tank.

11. An acid-proof tank of the character described, comprising an outershell, an independent inner shell built up of brick and sulfur cementwithin said outer shell and having a different cceiiicient ci expansionfrom said outer shell, said inner shell being unconnected with saidouter shell, the horizontal outer dimensions of said innershell beingless than the corresponding internal dimensions of said outer shellthereby to provide an air space open at its upper endand extending thefuel height of said inner shell to permit expansion of said inner shellrelative to said outer shell.

RICHARD NEUHAUS.

